Abstract

Transportation is an important health care issue. The majority of the population
here in Iowa have ready access and typically use private automobiles to access
health care and other community services. There is also a significant segment of
the population that either does not have access to a personal automobile or is not
currently capable of driving. This can potentially limit their access to health
care, but it has greater health implications because it can also limit access to
nutrition and other community services, as well as involvement in social
activities.
For people unable to drive themselves, the alternatives generally include reliance
on family, friends, volunteer groups, and public transit. Many choose transit
because it gives them a degree of independence. Public transit is often used to
supplement other options even when they are available. It becomes critical in
circumstances where the other options don’t exist. In many cases there may be
no family available or they may not always be able to get off work when travel
needs arise during the workday. Friends may be in similar circumstances and
volunteer groups may be either unavailable or overwhelmed.
The fact that many patients depend on public transit to get to and from health
care appointments makes it beneficial for health care professionals to get to
know more about public transit and how it operates here in Iowa.